A Tribocorrosion Apparatus to Revolutionize Tribology and Corrosion Research in Canada

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Tribocorrosion, involving both wear and corrosion in a systematic manner, occurs in a wide range of applications, including artificial hip and knee joints, food, pharmaceutical, transport and nuclear industries. A sensitive tribometer with the ability to conduct tribocorrosion measurements, in an environment with all necessary complementary analytical methods in an open-user facility, would allow this exceptional research team to detect these mechanically assisted interfacial corrosion processes. This instrument provides detailed information on the type of friction and wear. When coupled with a potentiostat, electrochemical signals can simultaneously be measured, providing information on disruption of the surface oxide and corrosion in conjunction with the coefficient of friction. Customized cells will be optimized for different research projects with unique requirements (e.g., oxygen content, temperature, absence of contamination for trace metal analysis). In order to perform certain types of tribological research such as the investigation of corrosion mechanisms in protein-rich environments involving friction, the wear and friction of advanced orthopaedic implant materials, and mechanically assisted interfacial corrosion processes for nuclear power environments and nuclear waste containers, the applicants require the use of an advanced and sensitive tribometer. A force resolution of 6 mN or better is needed for accurate information on subtle differences induced by these interfacial processes. The team of interdisciplinary (engineering, medicine, and science) and diverse applicants already have exceptional records of fundamental, medical, and industrial research activities, and the addition of an advanced tribometer will permit further advancement and collaboration of corrosion, tribology, and surface analysis researchers within Canada. The acquisition of a sensitive tribometer to Western will boost Canada's research reputation in tribocorrosion, and the device will be widely available to both academic and industrial users within Canada and internationally. To maximize access, the tribometer will be located in an open-user, low-vibration facility adjacent to complementary surface preparation and surface characterization equipment with active research staff scientists able to support HQP users and maintain the equipment. The team, instrument, training strategy, and facility have been carefully selected to facilitate the training and future, highly skilled, employment of HQP, including those from underrepresented groups.